COVID protocol protester Jeremie Ladouceur has some strong opinions about the seriousness of the pandemic and the way the province and municipality are enforcing the lockdown, but he doesn’t want to get bogged down in the minutia.
“Those are all problems beneath why I am here,” Laduceur said. “I’m not going to talk about the small stuff. I’m more worried about the big stuff. I just want people to remember they have rights. A lot of people in this country have died to make sure you can go without government tyranny forcing you to stay in your homes.”
He doesn’t claim to embrace many of the extreme views expressed by COVID deniers, but he doesn’t believe it is serious enough to limit our rights and freedoms.
Ladouceur began staging a one-man protest on Carden Street across the street from Guelph City Hall last Wednesday, shortly after Premier Doug Ford announced the province-wide, stay-at-home order.
“Some people get it and they get nothing. Some people get it and they die. So, COVID can range from nothing to your life and everything in between. Like I said, that’s the discussion beneath why I am here.
“I started seven days ago and I have been coming every day, except (Sunday) because city hall is closed and I wanted to do something else,” he said. “I’m here to bug city hall not everyone else. The government told me I have to stay home and I’m just showing them that I’m not staying home.”
He initially set up next to the large Guelph sign near the south-east edge of the wading pool in Market Square and began playing loud music through a portable, battery-powered speaker.
“All I did was sit and play my music,” he said. “I had bylaw show up. They told me to move along. I refused to move along. I just turned the music up even more to drown them out. So, they called the police on me.”
Guelph Police Service released a statement to GuelphToday stating that they identified Ladouceur when they arrived, as the same person involved in an incident at a local business on March 25. Police were called when, according to them, Ladouceur refused to leave after trying to get served while not wearing a mask.
“On April 14 police were called by staff at city hall with regards to the same male who was on the property and was refusing to leave,” the GPS statement said. “A 34-year-old Guelph male was charged under the Trespass to Property Act with failing to leave a premises when directed.”
Ladouceur agreed to leave city hall property, ticket in hand, but he didn’t go far.
“The look on bylaw’s face was shocking when all I had to do was walk about 100 feet to here and now, I am pointing the speaker directly at the building instead of away from it so, the problem is even worse,” he said. “My speaker only lasts about two hours. I sit, enjoy the day, enjoy my music and when the music is over it is time to head home.”
Ladouceur claims he has been banned from going on city hall property for a year. GuelphToday contacted city hall to confirm this claim and received a short statement.
“The city has no comment at this time as there is an active investigation underway,” they said.
Ladouceur has stayed off city hall property since the incident but he did participate in a rally, from a distance, Saturday when a group of anti-lockdown protesters marched into Market Square.
“I just interconnected with the marchers,” he said. “I started a group on Telegram for like-minded people that just want to come out and enjoy the day.”
Ladouceur said he gets a lot of hateful comments online for his posts and protest, but he found support from many of the marchers Saturday.
“A lot of people that stay home don’t realize how bad this is for businesses,” said Ladouceur. “People have worked their whole lives to save money to build a home and to have a business to take care of their family and they’re gone. You have the right to make a livelihood in this country without being impeded by the government.”
He said he hasn’t been affected as much as others he has met through his new-found activism.
“I’m a stay-at-home father for the most part,” he said. “My mom passed away. My daughter started school so, I have been just taking care of her. Even if I wanted to go back to work, there are so many people out of a job and looking for work. It’s ridiculous, just crazy.’
The Guelph Police Service have been given new powers to enforce the lockdown and stay-at-home order, but they also respect Ladouceur’s and the marchers’ right to protest.
“With regards to the Freedom March events, the Guelph Police Service recognizes and acknowledges individuals’ right to free expression under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” they said in a statement to GuelphToday. “The service also recognizes the COVID-19 pandemic is a global health crisis, and strongly encourages all residents to do their part to limit the spread of the virus. This includes social distancing, wearing a mask or other face covering and regular hand hygiene. We also encourage all residents to comply with provincial legislation aimed at limiting spread, including the current Stay-at-Home order.”
Ladouceur has made it loud and clear he won’t be complying.
“If you think I am going to stay home because they told me to, I’m an adult,” he said. “I am going to do what I want to do. I am going to come here, play music and enjoy the day outside.”
